April 12, 2013

Austaras - Under the Abysmal Lights

I got interested in Austaras when I read this this Lurkers Path review. Then I found their Bandcamp, heard Under the Abysmal Lights, and liked it a lot. Black metal mixed with folk, doom and post-metal. And good production, especially in the bass department; the album was mixed and mastered by Herbst from Lantlos.

The vocals may be a little underwhelming, but the instrumental aspects of Under the Abysmal Lights are simply stellar. While each song is tied together by a similar chugging sound, each also brings a different bit of sonic variety to the plate. Like the way Austaras adds a violin into the mix of instruments, the clean vocals on the second track "Wreck of Hope", and the progressive elements of the epic closer "Spirit Farewell".

All in all, an intriguing debut. Currently, Austaras is working on new material, and I look forward to seeing what this band comes up with for their full length.